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Akinwande Soji-Ojo
The lawmaker representing Egbeda/Ona Ara Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Hon. Akin Alabi, on Tuesday, said that he had gone too far in his relationship with the late Olubadan of Ibadan land, Oba Lekan Balogun, Alli Okunmade II, to cut off from the family the monarch left behind.
Alabi, who is also the Mogaji (Family head) of Ajiwogbo family in the Ibadan traditional system, stated this during his condolence visit to the Alarere residence of the late monarch, where the three widows of the late Oba Balogun–Oloris Olayinka, Olufunmilayo and Khalimat received him and his entourage.
In a statement made available to newmen in Ibadan on Wednesday by the Personal Assistant (Media) to the late Olubadan, Oladele Ogunsola, the lawmaker described the demise of Oba Balogun as sad and devastating, stressing that it would not cut him off from the family of the late monarch.
“It is natural that guests traffic to this place would thin out very soon, but I want to assure you that I won’t be part of those that would abandon this place. It does not mean that we won’t be going to the next appropriate places, no, we would ensure you are not abandoned.
“What’s even more, this place is part of my constituency and I would not have any justifiable reason to neglect any part of my constituency. In a nutshell, this place is my home and I would forever cherish my relationship with our departed great hero. There’s not much to say for now than to plead with all to take heart and be consoled with the good and enduring legacies left behind by our baba,” the lawmaker said.
In a related development, one of the registered political parties in the country, the Action Alliance (AA) has described the late Oba Balogun as a dedicated, loyal and committed Ibadan man, noting that it was not a surprise that God gave him the grace and privilege to rule over the city, however short the reign might be.
The political party stated this when the Chairman of its Board of Trustees (BoT), Dr. Samuel Olufemi Adeyemi, paid a condolence visit to the Alarere residence of the late Olubadan.
Adeyemi, who went down memory lane, said but for the singular efforts of the late Oba Balogun in 2011, the gubernatorial victory of the late former Governor Abiola Ajimobi might have become a mirage.
“it was our late father, who prevailed on our party from pressing forward on our litigation on that year’s gubernatorial election over the exclusion by INEC our party logo on the ballot paper.
“Being a lawyer myself, I don’t know how the former governor would have been able to scuttle our petition at the Election Petition Tribunal because exclusion of any eligible political party on the ballot paper is automatic re-run and the opposition party at the national level was waiting in the wings to assist our party, but our revered father stood his ground and prevailed on us.
“Ibadan has lost a great and highly consumate, compassionate and a quintessential leader of immeasurable value. A peace loving and highly cerebral monarch. The late Olubadan left enduring legacies which should be enough consolation for all the bereaved,” Adeyemi said.
Responding on behalf of the family, the eldest among the widows of the monarch, Olori Olayinka Balogun thanked Alabi and commended him for his commitment to the family while her husband was alive and his pledge not to abandon the family at the monarch’s death.
She expressed gladness at the good name and deeds left behind by the late Oba, describing the legacies as unquantifiable in terms of any tangible value
“We are not afraid to face the future in the absence of our husband, because what he left behind for us, the children and the entire family is beyond measure in terms of goodwill,” she said.
Olori Olayinka also hailed Action Alliance for recalling the political sagacity of their husband and more importantly his passion and commitment to Ibadan cause, which the struggle Adeyemi made reference to epitomized.
“We are not surprised by the testimony because we know him and what he stood for at any point in time,” she added.